The Friday of the May long weekend is my favourite day of the year. Not only do we get an extra day off, but this marks the unofficial beginning of the Canadian summer, meaning that months of possibilities stretch in front of us. New Music Friday will hopefully make things even better.
Singles
1. Featurette, Animal (Division 11)
Featurette is an alt-rock trio from Toronto who don’t want to waste anyone’s time. Most of their songs run under three minutes as they channel some cool 90s-trip-hop and industrial styles. Some cool wubs here from an Oberheim SEM (IYKYK).
2. Modest Mouse, Third Side of the Moon (Glacial Pace)
We’re still a few weeks away (June 5) from the release of the next album from the newly independent Modest Mouse and a lineup featuring three new members. This is the third advance single from An Eraser and a Maze.
3. The Strokes, Falling Out of Love (RCA/Cult)
This is the second advance single heralding Reality Awaits, the first Strokes album six years. Rick Rubin produced the record in Costa Rica of all places. The official release date for the album is June 26.
4./5. The Tragically Hip, Fifty-Mission Cap (Live)/Locked in the Trunk of a Car (Live) (Universal)
The Tragically Hip have a huge archive that has preserved almost everything the band ever did. Today, we get a double A-side featuring Fifty-Mission Cap (recorded in Edmonton) and Locked in the Trunk of a Car (recorded at The Hip’s last-ever show in Kingston, on August 20, 2016.) This is part of a larger 29-song project entitled Live July 22-August 20, 2016, which will feature selected performances from that last tour. It’s due August 21. The next night, the CBC will re-run the entire 2016 Kingston show on its 10th anniversary.
6. Vacations, Holy Grail (Nettwerk Music Group)
More synthy stuff, this time from a gentle-sounding four-piece from an upcoming album entitled Pursuit of Anything. If you’re a fan of artists in the vein of Tame Impala, this should work for you.
Albums
1. Crown Lands, Apocalypse (InsideOut Music)
Oshawa’s JUNO-winning two-piece powerhouse is back with a fourth album, again channeling groups like Rush and Led Zeppelin. Classic rock-tinged bombast? Here you go. The title track takes up almost half the album’s runtime, but that’s the kind of thing both Rush and Zep would do, right? If you have 19 free minutes, I highly recommend turning the lights down and the music up. This is Cygnus X-1-style stuff (you’ll hear it right away) with a touch of Pink Floyd thrown in.
2. Peter Frampton, Carry the Light (UMe)
Speaking of classic rock, Peter Frampton is back wtih his first album of all-new material in 16 years. Guests include Tom Morellow, Graham Nash, H.E.R., Benmont Tench, and more. Oh, and the recorded was produced by his son, Julian. This single sounds like nothing from Frampton Comes Alive, by the way. In fact, you’d never guess this was from THAT Peter Frampton.
3. Ziggy Marley, Brightside (Tuff Gong Worldwide)
Here’s another guy who’s been AWOL for a while. Ziggy Marley (son of Bob, of course) hasn’t released an album in eight years. New gentle reggae for summer that remembers what Bob gave us? Yes, please.
4. Rostam, American Stories (Matsor Projects)
Rostam Matmanglij, ex of Vampire Weekend, is now up to his third solo album, which comes with a companion film. It shows Rostam performing eight songs live in Studio A at the famous Sound City studio in LA, birthplace of records by Nirvana, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, and so many more. Some great musicianship here.
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